Device for Ophthalmic Surgery and Method of Use Therefor

ABSTRACT

A lens device for use in Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedures is provided. The lens device includes four internal reflectors, each having a reflector surface configured to direct a laser beam pulse toward the trabecular meshwork region of a patient&#39;s eye. Each of the four internal reflectors is arranged to correspond to a particular quadrant of the patient&#39;s eye to enable the entire 360-degrees of the trabecular meshwork to be treated with laser pulses without rotation of the lens device. A method for performing an SLT procedure using the lens device is also provided. The method includes placing the lens device on the patient&#39;s eye, aligning the internal reflectors with the quadrants of the patient&#39;s eye, and directing laser pulses through each internal reflector until the trabecular meshwork in each quadrant of the patient&#39;s eye has been treated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/579,258filed Sep. 23, 2019 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,135,091 which issues on Oct.5, 2021), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/734,959, filed Sep. 21, 2018, to John A. McCall, Jr.,entitled “Device for Ophthalmic Surgery and Method of Use Therefor”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are several therapeutic options available for treating glaucoma,including ophthalmic surgery with laser therapies, particularly for openangle glaucoma. One of these surgeries is Selective LaserTrabeculoplasty (SLT). During an SLT procedure, several selective lasershots are made to the patient's eye at even spacing to the trabecularmeshwork (TM). The laser shots in the SLT procedure treat the TM with aspecific wavelength light that is predominately absorbed by the melaninresiding in the TM. The laser used during SLT targets only pigmentedtrabecular cells and intends to cause no structural or coagulativedamage to the rest of the trabecular meshwork.

Safe and effective laser ophthalmic surgery requires a fine balancebetween the efficiency of laser shots delivered and the degree ofcollateral side damage. The laser-ocular tissue interaction process isreliant on three main variables, namely, wavelength, pulse duration, anddeposited energy. A certain amount of energy is needed to achieveaffect, while too much energy can result in unwanted collateral thermaldamage.

SLT uses a Q-switched, frequency-doubled, Nd:YAG laser to selectivelytarget the melanin-containing cells of the trabecular meshwork orselective photothermolysis. The 532 nm laser energy is delivered over ashort pulse duration of three nanoseconds, which produces littlecollateral damage to adjacent TM. The spot size measure 400 nm. A verysmall amount of energy (0.6 to 0.9 mj) is applied over a relativelylarge area in SLT, but because the power settings are so low, thereisn't enough energy to convert the electromagnetic power in the TMmelanosomes into thermal energy. Only pigmented TM cells are disrupted;surrounding tissues are preserved. SLT is thought to release cytokinesand other chemicals that stimulate the recruitment of macrophages, whichhelp to phagocytize TM debris to improve outflow.

Currently, a single mirror lens is used in SLT procedures to direct thelaser shots from the laser source to the TM of the patient's eye.Because the laser shots must be spread out across the TM, the lens mustbe rotated several times during the procedure in order to completelycover the patient's eye, which significantly reduces the overallefficiency of the procedure. Accordingly, a need exists for an improvedlens device for SLT procedures and an improved method for performing SLTprocedures. A need also exists for new methods for performing SLTprocedures to increase accuracy, efficiency and patient comfort.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to a four-mirror lens deviceused in connection with Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) proceduresfor treating glaucoma or other issues in a patient's eye. The lensdevice can include an outer body having a first end for receiving laserbeam pulses from a laser source during an SLT procedure. The outer bodycan also include a second end for being placed on the patient's eyeduring the SLT procedure. The second end can allow the laser pulsesreceived through the first end to be transmitted to the patient's eye.

Located within the interior of the lens device can be four internalreflectors. Each internal reflector can include a mirrored or reflectivesurface that is configured to direct light or laser pulses to aparticular quadrant of the patient's eye, and particularly, thetrabecular meshwork located within that quadrant. Because of thearrangement of the four internal reflectors, when the lens device ispositioned on a patient's eye, nearly the entire 360-degrees of thetrabecular meshwork around the patient's eye is visible simultaneously.This can enable an operator to perform an SLT procedure and transmitlaser pulses through each internal reflector to cover the entirety ofthe trabecular meshwork without any rotation of the lens device.

The present invention is further directed to a modified method forperforming a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure to treatglaucoma or other issues in a patient's eye using a traditionalsingle-mirror lens device. The modified method utilizes a quadrantapproach rather than a continuous rotation approach to treat the entire360-degrees of the trabecular meshwork with laser beam pulses. Themodified method begins by orientating the single-mirror lens device toview a center-line of a first quadrant of the patient's eye. Theoperator may then transmit laser pulses to trabecular meshwork withinthe first quadrant by starting at the center-line and moving in theclockwise direction until the edge of the field of view is reached. Theoperator may then return to the center-line of the quadrant and continueto transmit laser pulses while moving in the counterclockwise directionuntil the edge of the field of view is reached. The lens device may berotated 180-degrees and these steps can be repeated for a secondquadrant. The lens device may then be rotated 90-degrees and the stepsrepeated for a third quadrant. The lens device may then be rotated180-degrees and the steps repeated for a fourth quadrant.

The present invention is further directed to a method for performing aSelective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure to treat glaucoma orother issues in a patient's eye using the four-mirror lens device of thepresent invention. This method allows for the treatment of the entire360-degrees of the trabecular meshwork of a patient's eye without anyrotation of the lens device during the SLT procedure. The method caninclude the steps of:

(i) providing a lens device having four internal reflectors, eachinternal reflector configured to direct transmitted laser beam pulses toa particular quadrant of said patient's eye;

(ii) positioning said lens device onto said patient's eye;

(iii) aligning said four internal reflectors of said lens device withthe four quadrants of said patient's eye;

(iv) directing said laser emitter to the internal reflectorcorresponding to a first quadrant of said patient's eye and transmittinglaser beam pulses through said internal reflector to treat thetrabecular meshwork located within said first quadrant;

(v) directing said laser emitter to the internal reflector correspondingto a second quadrant of said patient's eye and transmitting laser beampulses through said internal reflector to treat the trabecular meshworklocated within said second quadrant;

(vi) directing said laser emitter to the internal reflectorcorresponding to a second quadrant of said patient's eye andtransmitting laser beam pulses through said internal reflector to treatthe trabecular meshwork located within said third quadrant; and

(vii) directing said laser emitter to the internal reflectorcorresponding to a fourth quadrant of said patient's eye andtransmitting laser beam pulses through said internal reflector to treatthe trabecular meshwork located within said fourth quadrant.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments ofthe accompanying drawing figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification andare to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numeralsare used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a four-mirror lens device for usein Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty procedures in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a four-mirror lens device for usein Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty procedures in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a four-mirror lens device for use inSelective Laser Trabeculoplasty procedures in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a four-mirror lens device for use inSelective Laser Trabeculoplasty procedures, illustrating the device whenplaced on a patient's eye in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a prior art method for performing a SelectiveLaser Trabeculoplasty procedure with a single-mirror lens device ascurrently known in the industry;

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the prior art method of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a modified method for performing a SelectiveLaser Trabeculoplasty procedure with a single-mirror lens device inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of the modified method of FIG. 6 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for performing a Selective LaserTrabeculoplasty procedure with a four-mirror lens device in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of the method of FIG. 7 in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawingfigures, in which like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristicsof the present invention, proportional relationships of the elementshave not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

The following detailed description of the invention references specificembodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments areintended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Otherembodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. The present invention isdefined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not tobe taken in a limited sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalentsto which such claims are entitled.

The present invention is directed to an ophthalmic lens device 10 usedduring a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure to direct laserenergy pulses to the trabecular meshwork (TM) portion of a patient's eyeto treat glaucoma or other issues. As described below, the presentinvention is also directed to a method 100 for performing an SLTprocedure using a traditional single-mirror lens device and a method 200for performing an SLT procedure using lens device 10 of the presentinvention.

As best shown in FIGS. 1-3, lens device 10 can be constructed with anexterior design and configuration similar to SLT lens devices currentlyknown and utilized in the industry. Such prior art lens devices includethe Volk® single-mirror SLT lens and the Ocular® Latina SLT Gonio laserlens, the structure, design and configuration of which are incorporatedherein by reference. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, lens device 10 can includean outer body portion with a laser light beam receiving end 12 forreceiving laser pulses from a laser source or emitter, and a patientcontact end 14. As best shown in FIG. 2, patient contact end 14 mayinclude a curved surface so that contact end 14 may be fitted onto thepatient's cornea during an SLT procedure. The patient contact end 14 mayalso be configured to receive the laser pulses passing through theinterior of the device and allow the re-directed laser pulses to betransmitted to the patient's eye.

Lens device 10 may further include gripping and adjustment means 16provided around the exterior perimeter of lens device 10 configured toassist a user in holding and adjusting lens device 10 during an SLTprocedure. As illustrated in FIG. 1, gripping and adjustment means 16may include a plurality of ridges formed onto the surface of device 10.As illustrated in FIG. 2, gripping and adjustment means may also oralternatively include a plurality of indentions of grooves formed intothe surface of device 10. Any other suitable means for facilitatingincreased grip may also be used.

As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the patient contact end 14 caninclude a modified flange 20 that can be larger than a standard lensflange and can (a) keep the lens in place and stable throughout the SLTprocedure and (b) keep any excess pressure from the surgeon's hand fromdistorting the view by wrinkling the cornea.

As best shown in FIG. 3, located within lens device 10 can be fourinternal reflective surfaces 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, and 18 d configured asmirrors or reflectors. Reflectors 18 a-18 d can be configured in amanner similar to the single large reflective facet provided intraditional single-mirror SLT lenses, such as the Volk® or Ocular®identified above. Reflectors 18 a-18 d can further provide simultaneousviews of the trabecular meshwork (TM) and iridocorneal angle of apatient's eye when placed thereon (see FIG. 4).

Each of the four reflectors 18 a-18 d can be configured to direct thelight laser beams utilized during an SLT procedure to a specific portionof the patient's eye and specifically the trabecular meshwork (TM) ofthe patient's eye which, as described in greater detail below, cangreatly increase the precision and efficiency of the SLT procedure.According to one embodiment, when in use, the lens device 10 can beconfigured so that each reflector 18 a-18 d corresponds to a particularquadrant of the user's eye (i.e., superior, inferior, left, and rightquadrants). Each reflector 18 a-18 d has a specific direction and/orcurvature that enables light/energy directed through the receiving end12 of lens device 10 to be redirected to the trabecular meshwork regionof the patient's eye within a particular quadrant of the patient's eye.The four reflectors 18 a-18 d are further selectively arranged so,collectively, the reflectors 18 a-18 d cover the entirety of thepatient's eye.

For purposes of example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, according to oneembodiment, reflector 18 a may be positioned in the left quadrant withinthe interior of lens device 10, reflector 18 b may be positioned in thesuperior (upper) quadrant, reflector 18 c may be positioned in the rightquadrant, and reflector 18 d may be positioned in the inferior (lower)quadrant. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reflectors 18 a-18 d may besized and arranged within the interior of lens device 10 so that theycollectively provide a near 360-degree view of the trabecular meshworkand iridocorneal angle with clear and accurate imaging.

According to one embodiment, reflectors 18 a-18 d can be configured withtotal internal reflection or almost total internal reflection in orderto reduce the energy loss of the laser light beam after reflection offof the reflector 18 a-d. Lens device 10 can also be configured incertain embodiments to allow for magnification of the laser light beamin order to account for the slight loss in energy from a result of thereflectors 18 a-18 d. According to one embodiment, each reflector 18a-18 d can be configured to provide a magnification of approximately 1.0across each reflector to maintain a consistent laser beam shot size andpower density. In certain alternative select embodiments, themagnification can be along the order of 1.1 to 1.25; however, it isrecognized that any desired magnification (including no magnification)can be utilized in various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 provides a schematic representation of lens device 10 in use witha patient in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 4, when patient contact end 14 of device 10 is seated onthe cornea C of a patient's eye, the four individual reflectors 18 a-18d enable simultaneous viewing of the trabecular meshwork TM in eachquadrant of the patient's eye. As a result of the four distinctreflectors 18 a-18 d, an operator may simultaneously view approximatelythe entire 360-degrees of the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eyewithout any rotation of the lens device 10.

FIGS. 5 and 5A illustrate the currently utilized method for performing aSelective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure to treat glaucoma in apatient's eye as commonly known in the prior art. This method uses alaser energy emitter source to shoot bursts of laser pulses or shots tothe trabecular meshwork portion of the patient's eye using asingle-mirror lens device, such as the Volk® or Ocular® lensesidentified above. The eye is treated with a numbing substance and theeye receiving end of the single-mirror lens device is positioned ontothe cornea of the patient's eye. The single-mirror lens device is thenutilized to reflect laser beam pulses across the iris of the patient'seye and into the trabecular meshwork area to be treated.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 5A, this prior art method begins with theoperating doctor or technician orientating the lens device to the 12o'clock (i.e., upper vertical) position so that the laser beam pulsesemitted from the laser energy source will reflect off the single-mirrorreflector toward the 6 o'clock (i.e., lower vertical) position of thepatient's eye, and specifically the trabecular meshwork area of the eye.The operator begins transmitting laser beam pulses into thesingle-mirror lens device, starting at the 6 o'clock position of thetrabecular meshwork of the patient's eye and continuing in the clockwisedirection (as demonstrated by FIG. 5A). The operator continues totransmit laser beam shots through the single-mirror lens device and intothe trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye in a clockwise directionaround the trabecular meshwork until the edge of the field of vision ofthe lens device is reached. Once the edge of the field of vision isreached, the operator must rotate the lens device in a clockwisedirection to replace the operator's field of vision through the lensdevice with a new area of the trabecular meshwork that has not yet beentreated. After rotating the lens device to the new field of vision, theoperator resumes transmitting laser beam shots to the trabecularmeshwork area of the patient's eye in a clockwise direction until theoperator's field of vision is again reached. The operator must thenrotate the lens device clockwise again and repeat the prior processuntil the operator has completed an entire 360-degree rotation to treatthe entire trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye.

This current prior art method provides several difficulties andinefficiencies during an SLT procedure. First, it is easy for theoperator to get lost in terms of location or direction, particularlyduring and after a rotation of the lens device, which results inunnecessary overlapping of laser beam shots in the same location of thetrabecular meshwork area of the patient's eye. Typically, this methodrequires approximately 100 laser beam shots with about 25 shots perquadrant of the patient's eye, with some of the laser beam shots beingapplied to the same area of the trabecular meshwork due to inaccuraterotation of the lens device. Second, the operator must balance rotatingthe lens device while simultaneously stabilizing the lens device firmlyon the cornea, which can increase the time duration of the overallprocedure and can cause discomfort and irritation for the patient.Particularly, significant rotation of the lens device when seated on thepatient's cornea can lead to the patient shifting his or her eye,blinking or otherwise disrupting the positioning of the lens device.

FIGS. 6 and 6A illustrate a modified method 100 for performing an SLTprocedure to treat glaucoma in a patient's eye using a single-mirrorlens device (such as the Volk® or Ocular® lenses identified above) inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Method 100 usesa laser energy emitter source to shoot bursts of laser pulses or shotsto the trabecular meshwork portion of the patient's eye through thesingle-mirror lens device in the manner currently utilized during SLTprocedures and described above. However, as best illustrated in FIGS. 6and 6A, through method 100, the operator performs the SLT procedure inaccordance with quadrants which reduces the total rotationalrequirements of the lens device during the procedure.

Method 100 begins at step 102 where the patient's eye may be treatedwith a numbing substance and the eye receiving end of the single-mirrorlens may be positioned onto the cornea of the patient's eye. Thesingle-mirror lens device is then utilized to reflect laser beam pulsesacross the iris of the patient's eye and into the trabecular meshworkarea to be treated in accordance with steps 104-114 described below. Atstep 104, the operator orientates the lens device so that the laser beampulses transmitted from the laser source will reflect off thesingle-mirror reflector toward the 6 o'clock center-line position of thepatient's eye, and specifically the trabecular meshwork area of the eye.As best illustrated in FIG. 6A, the 6 o'clock center-line position canrepresent the vertical center of the inferior (lower) quadrantdesignated as Q1.

Next at step 106, the operator may begin transmitting laser beam shots(using a vertical beam) from the laser source directly at the 6 o′clockcenter position and move in the clockwise direction around thetrabecular meshwork while transmitting intermittent laser shots. Theoperator will continue to travel around the trabecular meshwork in theclockwise direction transmitting laser shots until the edge of the fieldof vision is reached, which corresponds to the left edge of quadrant Q1.The operator may then cease transmitting laser shots, and then at step108, redirect the laser emitter source back to the 6 o'clock centerposition in quadrant Q1. Next at step 110, the operator may begintransmitting laser beam shots from the laser emitter source directly atthe 6 o'clock center position and move in the counterclockwise directionaround the trabecular meshwork while transmitting intermittent lasershots. During step 110, the operator may continue to travel around thetrabecular meshwork in the counterclockwise direction transmitting lasershots until the edge of the field of vision is reached, whichcorresponds to the right edge quadrant Q1. The operator may then ceasetransmitting laser shots and proceed to step 112.

At step 112, the operator may rotate the lens device 180 degrees so thatthe laser beam pulses emitted from the laser emitter source will reflectoff the single-mirror reflector of the lens device toward the 12 o'clockcenter-line position of the patient's eye. The operator may then repeatsteps 104-110 for the superior (upper) quadrant of the patient's eye,designated as Q2 in FIG. 6A. The operator may begin at the 12 o'clock(center) position of quadrant Q2 and transmit laser beam shots to thetrabecular meshwork while moving in the clockwise direction until theedge of the field of vision is reached, which corresponds to the rightedge of quadrant Q2. The operator may then cease transmitting lasershots and re-orientate back to the 12 o'clock (center) position of Q2and then begin transmitting laser shots around the trabecular meshworkin the counterclockwise direction until the edge of the field of visionis reached, which corresponds to the left edge of quadrant Q2. Theoperator may then cease transmitting laser shots and proceed to step114.

At step 114, the operator may rotate the lens device 90-degrees so thatthe laser beam pulses emitted from the laser emitter source will reflectoff the single-mirror reflector toward the 3 o'clock center-lineposition of the patient's eye. The operator may then turn the laser beamhorizontal and carry out steps 104-110 for the right quadrant of thepatient's eye, designated as Q3 in FIG. 6A. The operator may begin atthe 3 o'clock (center) position of quadrant Q3 and transmit laser beamshots to the trabecular meshwork while moving in the clockwise directionuntil the edge of the field of vision is reached, which corresponds tothe lower edge of quadrant Q3. The operator may then cease transmittinglaser shots and re-orientate back to the 3 o'clock (center) position ofQ3 and then begin transmitting laser shots around the trabecularmeshwork in the counterclockwise direction until the edge of the fieldof vision is reached, which corresponds to the upper edge of quadrantQ3.

The operator may then cease transmitting laser shots and rotate the lensdevice 180-degrees so that the laser beam pulses emitted from the laseremitter source will reflect off the single-mirror reflector toward the 9o'clock center position of the patient's eye. The operator may thencarry out steps 104-110 for the left quadrant of the patient's eye,designated as Q4 in FIG. 6A. The operator may begin at the 9 o'clock(center) position of quadrant Q4 and transmit laser beam shots to thetrabecular meshwork while moving in the clockwise direction until theedge of the field of vision is reached, which corresponds to the upperedge of quadrant Q4. The operator may then cease transmitting lasershots and re-orientate back to the 9 o'clock (center) position of Q4 andthen begin transmitting laser shots around the trabecular meshwork inthe counterclockwise direction until the edge of the field of vision isreached, which corresponds to the lower edge of quadrant Q4.

Using method 100 described above allows the operator to cover the entire360-degree area of the trabecular meshwork during the SLT procedure byusing four individual calculated rotations of the lens device as opposedto a continuous 360-degree rotation. This can enable the operator toincrease accuracy and efficiency, minimize overlapping of laser shots tothe same trabecular meshwork area and reduce the total time for the SLTprocedure.

It is also recognized that method 100 may be performed by completing thefour quadrants (Q1-Q4) of the patient's eye in any desired order. Forexample, steps 104-110 may be performed for Q1 first, Q4 second, Q2third, and finally Q3 fourth, each time rotating the lens device90-degrees.

While method 100 described above increases the accuracy and efficiencyof an SLT using a single-mirror lens device, it still requires rotationof the lens device during the SLT procedure to cover the entire360-degree area of the trabecular meshwork, which can impact efficiencyand patient comfort. FIGS. 7 and 7A illustrate a method 200 that may beused in connection with the four-mirror lens device 10 of the presentinvention to perform an SLT procedure without any rotation of the lensdevice 10 to cover the entire 360-degree area of the trabecularmeshwork. As described above, and best illustrated in FIG. 4, the fourindividual reflectors 18 a-18 d arranged within the four differentquadrants of the interior of lens device 10 collectively provide a near360-degree view of the trabecular meshwork and iridocorneal angle withclear and accurate imaging. As a result, an SLT procedure may becompleted using lens device 10 without any rotation of lens device 10during the procedure as described below.

Method 200 utilizes lens device 10 of the present invention inconnection with a standard laser energy emitter source to shoot burstsof laser pulses or shots to the trabecular meshwork portion of thepatient's eye. As illustrated in FIG. 7, method 200 can begin at step202 where the patient's eye is treated with a numbing substance and theeye receiving end 14 of lens device 10 is positioned onto the cornea ofthe patient's eye. Next, at step 204, the operator may align reflectors18 a-18 d of lens device 10 with the four quadrants of the patient's eye(Q1-Q4 as depicted in FIG. 7A) so that a near 360-degree view of thetrabecular meshwork of the patient's eye is visible.

Next, at step 206, the operator may align the laser energy source withthe reflector 18 corresponding to quadrant Q1 to shoot laser beam pulsesto the trabecular meshwork within Q1 and visible through the reflector18. At step 208, the operator may treat the trabecular meshwork withinquadrant Q1 by transmitting laser beam pulses to the trabecularmeshwork. During step 208, the operator may begin at one edge ofquadrant Q1 and move in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction tothe opposing edge of the quadrant while transmitting intermittent laserbeam pulses to treat the entire area of the trabecular meshwork visiblein the quadrant through reflector 18. Alternatively, the operator maytreat the trabecular meshwork visible in the quadrant in any suitablemanner.

Next, at step 210, the operator may repeat steps 206 and 208 for each ofthe remaining quadrants Q2-Q4 in order to treat the entire 360-degreearea of the patient's eye with laser beam pulses. For example, followingquadrant Q1, the operator may align the laser energy source with thereflector 18 corresponding to quadrant Q2 and transmit laser beam pulsesacross the entire visible area of the trabecular meshwork withinquadrant Q2, then align the laser energy source with the reflector 18corresponding to quadrant Q3 and transmit laser beam pulses across theentire visible area of the trabecular meshwork within quadrant Q3, andthen finally align the laser energy source with the reflector 18corresponding to quadrant Q4 and transmit laser beam pulses across theentire visible area of the trabecular meshwork within quadrant Q4. Theoperator may also treat each quadrant Q1-Q4 using steps 206 and 208 inany desired order.

Because there is no rotation required using method 200 and lens device10, there is very limited overlap and excess shots made to the patient'strabecular meshwork during the SLT procedure. This greatly increases theefficiency of the procedure and reduces the total amount of energyexpended during the procedure. In addition, method 200 enables the SLTprocedure to be completed at a rate of approximately 2.5 minutes per eye(as opposed to a standard 7-8 minutes per eye using a single-mirror lensdevice).

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference toother features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and iswithin the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of theinvention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it isalso to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and notlimiting.

The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings arepresented by way of example only and are not intended to limit theconcepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has beenshown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As isevident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the presentinvention are not limited by the particular details of the examplesillustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that othermodifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur tothose skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similarterms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of“optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes,modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the presentconstruction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the artafter considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. Allsuch changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applicationswhich do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention aredeemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by theclaims which follow.

1. A lens device for use in performing a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty(SLT) procedure to a patient's eye, the device comprising: a device bodyhaving a first end configured to receive a laser beam pulsetransmission, a second end configured for placement on a patient's eye,and an interior positioned therebetween; and four internal reflectorslocated within the interior of the lens device; wherein each of theinternal reflectors corresponds to a quadrant of a patient's eye.
 2. Thelens device of claim 1, wherein the four internal reflectors comprise: afirst internal reflector having a first surface configured to re-directa laser beam pulse received through said first end of the device to asecond quadrant of the patient's eye; a second internal reflector havinga second surface configured to re-direct a laser beam pulse receivedthrough said first end of the device to a second quadrant of thepatient's eye; a third internal reflector having a third surfaceconfigured to re-direct a laser beam pulse received through said firstend of the device to a third quadrant of the patient's eye; and a fourthinternal reflector having a fourth surface configured to re-direct alaser beam pulse received through said first end of the device to afourth quadrant of the patient's eye.
 3. The lens device of claim 1,wherein each of the internal reflectors is directed toward thetrabecular meshwork area of the patient's eye within the correspondingquadrant.
 4. The lens device of claim 3, wherein a 360-degree view ofthe trabecular meshwork area of the patient's eye is simultaneouslyvisible through the four internal reflectors when the second end of thedevice is seated onto the patient's eye.
 5. The lens device of claim 4,wherein the four internal reflectors enable the lens device to be usedto complete an SLT procedure without rotation of the lens device afterthe second end has been seated on the patient's eye.
 6. The lens deviceof claim 5, wherein the lens device enables laser beam pulses to betransmitted through the four internal reflectors to the entire360-degrees of the trabecular meshwork area of the patient's eye withoutrotation of the lens device.
 7. The lens device of claim 1, wherein thesecond end includes a flange configured to secure the lens device to thepatient's eye.
 8. The lens device of claim 1, wherein the second endincludes a curved surface configured to generally conform to the shapeof the patient's eye.
 9. The lens device of claim 1, wherein each of thefour internal reflectors provides a magnification of approximately 1.0.10. The lens device of claim 1, wherein each of the four internalreflectors provides a magnification greater than 1.0.
 11. A method forperforming a Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure using asingle-mirror lens device to direct laser beam pulses from a laseremitter to the trabecular meshwork of a patient's eye, said methodcomprising the steps of: placing the single-mirror lens device onto thepatient's eye; orientate the single-mirror lens device to view acenter-line of a lower quadrant of the patient's eye; transmitting laserbeam pulses through the single-mirror lens device to the trabecularmeshwork of the patient's eye beginning at the center-line of the lowerquadrant and moving around the trabecular meshwork in a clockwisedirection to a first edge of the lower quadrant; ceasing transmission oflaser beam pulses and returning to the center-line of the lowerquadrant; and transmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirrorlens device to the trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning atthe center-line of the lower quadrant and moving around the trabecularmeshwork in a counterclockwise direction to a second edge of the lowerquadrant.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:rotating the single-mirror lens device approximately 180-degrees toorientate the single-mirror lens device to view a center-line of anupper quadrant of the patient's eye; transmitting laser beam pulsesthrough the single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of thepatient's eye beginning at the center-line of the upper quadrant andmoving around the trabecular meshwork in a clockwise direction to afirst edge of the upper quadrant; ceasing transmission of laser beampulses and returning to the center-line of the upper quadrant; andtransmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device tothe trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at thecenter-line of the upper quadrant and moving around the trabecularmeshwork in a counterclockwise direction to a second edge of the upperquadrant.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:rotating the single-mirror lens device approximately 90-degrees toorientate the single-mirror lens device to view a center-line of a rightquadrant of the patient's eye; transmitting laser beam pulses throughthe single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of thepatient's eye beginning at the center-line of the right quadrant andmoving around the trabecular meshwork in a clockwise direction to afirst edge of the right quadrant; ceasing transmission of laser beampulses and returning to the center-line of the right quadrant; andtransmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device tothe trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at thecenter-line of the right quadrant and moving around the trabecularmeshwork in a counterclockwise direction to a second edge of the rightquadrant.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:rotating the single-mirror lens device approximately 180-degrees toorientate the single-mirror lens device to view a center-line of a leftquadrant of the patient's eye; transmitting laser beam pulses throughthe single-mirror lens device to the trabecular meshwork of thepatient's eye beginning at the center-line of the left quadrant andmoving around the trabecular meshwork in a clockwise direction to afirst edge of the left quadrant; ceasing transmission of laser beampulses and returning to the center-line of the left quadrant; andtransmitting laser beam pulses through the single-mirror lens device tothe trabecular meshwork of the patient's eye beginning at thecenter-line of the left quadrant and moving around the trabecularmeshwork in a counterclockwise direction to a second edge of the leftquadrant.